Great Smoky Mountains Adventure
4 days from Rocky Mountains to Mississippi River
From $ 1649
Duration4 days
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This 4-day adventure brings you face to face with the many facets and hidden wonders of the Great Smoky Mountains. Your experience begins amidst misty valleys dotted with homesteads. Trees tower above the forest floor and waterfalls cascade down lush hillsides. We hike the park’s most beloved paths–including the iconic Appalachian Trail–and explore moonshine caves and old Civil War roads. For thrills, we raft down the rollicking Class II and III rapids of the Nantahala River and soar high above the forest floor on a mountaintop zip line tour. Each night our private deluxe REI Signature Camp awaits. Scrumptious meals next to cozy campfires and stories shared under a starlit sky create memories to last a lifetime. Finally, the warmth of a cozy sleeping bag beckons and we fall asleep to the sounds of the forest. This is a great trip for adults and fit, older teens. If you're traveling with younger children, check out our Great Smoky Mountains Family Adventure.

This tour is operated by

  • Duration: 4 days
    Service level: Standard
  • Starts in: Rocky Mountains
    Physical Grading: Average
  • Ends in: Mississippi River
    Ages: 18+
Great Smoky Mountains Adventure - Tour Map

Itinerary

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Day 1: Welcome to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Start place: Rocky Mountains

Our adventure begins at 10am in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where we meet our guides and fellow travelers. Following a brief orientation we hop on our provided shuttle for a 45 minute drive to beautiful Cades Cove. The unique topography and environment attracts a wide variety of flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world. We’ll also experience the rich human history of the valley, as our tour takes us past well preserved churches, cabins and Civil War cemeteries. From Cades Cove, we will head to Tremont to escape the crowds for a short hike to Spruce Flats Falls. At the end of the day our friendly camp host welcomes us to Signature Camp where we’re greeted with delicious appetizers and a refreshing drink. All meals included.
Hiking: 3 miles; 469’ elevation gain/loss.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 2: Hike the AT in route to breathtaking views at the summit of Mount Cammerer.
After a tasty backcountry breakfast, we transfer to Low Gap Trailhead for an out-and-back hike to the summit of Mount Cammerer. A series of switchbacks climbs 2,000 feet through beautiful hardwood forest before joining the famous Appalachian Trail. We let the famous white blaze lead the way as our guides share stories of intrepid travelers who have hiked the over 2,000 miles of trail from Springer Mountain, GA to Mount Katahdin, ME. Our reward is the summit of Mount Cammerer, with its 360-degree views of the majestic Smoky Mountains. Our day finishes at our comfortable Signature Camp where we enjoy another scrumptious dinner. All meals included.
Hiking: 11 miles; 3,000’ elevation gain/loss.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Explore historical artifacts before indulging in a festive farewell barbecue.
Our mission today is to explore a unique section of trails; home to the largest collection of human artifacts in the National Park system. Walk along a beautiful mountain stream through an old growth forest. Climb to one of the most picturesque mountain vistas with expansive views of breathtaking rock formations. Our celebration of this spectacular region continues as we head back for southern barbecue around a roaring campfire. We’ll spend our final evening together sharing stories and reflecting on our last few days of adventure. All meals included.
Hiking: 6 miles; 1,500’ elevation gain/loss.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Soar along a mountaintop zipline and float down the beautiful Nantahala River.
An approximately one hour drive gets us to the Nantahala Outdoor Center. The NOC is a mecca for outdoor adventure and located at the intersection of the Appalachian Trail and the Nantahala River. After three days of exploring on foot, we take to the air to experience the park from above. We soar mountaintop to mountaintop along two adrenaline pumping miles of premier zip-line. Next we load into whitewater rafts to enjoy a fun, Class II and III ride down the scenic Nantahala River. After rounding out our exploration of the Great Smoky Mountains by land, sky and water we make our way back to Gatlinburg. We expect to arrive back to our host hotel by 7pm this evening. Breakfast and lunch included.
Inclement weather may impact the accessibility of the zip-lining course. If this is the case, we may substitute the NOC’s adventure rope course for the zip-lining activity.
Zip-lining: 2 miles; Time: 1-2 hours; Whitewater Rafting: 8 miles; Time: 3 hours.

End place: Mississippi River

Meals: B, L

Inclusions

Included

  • Any park or other admission fees or permits, Guides and Camp Host
  • Round trip transportation from Gatlinburg, TN to all destinations visited during the trip
  • all meals and snacks from lunch on day 1 through lunch on day 4

  • Accommodation

    REI Signature Camping, 3 nights

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